Charles f



PAEENT nnron CHARLES F. TAYLOR, OF J,\'E\"V YORK, N.

APPARA'IU'S FOR REDUCING SPINAL GURV'IURE.

Spcification of Letters Patent N0. 32,013, dated April 9, 1861.

T0 all whom vlt may concern:

Be itknown that I*, CHARLES F. TAYLOR, of' New York, in the county ofNew York ancl State of New York, l1ave invented an Apparatus forReclucing Spinal Curvatures, the oonstruction ancloperation of which Ihave described in the following spe iification and illustrated in itsacconlpanying drawings With suflicient clearness to enable oo1npetentand skilful workmen in the arts to Which it pertains or is 1nost nearlyallied to malte and use my invention.

My said invention is for apparatus to aicl in the reduction of spinalcurvatures, ancl consists in first, What I term an eccentric couchconstructed in the manner hereinafter described, by rneans of which tl1epatient is enabled to place hin1self in a state of repose in such aposition as to force apart the narrow eclges, and press together thewicle edges of. the joints of the bones of the vertebra, thus reducingthe curvature und creating or restoring a tendenoy of the parts, totheir normal position, this lateral correction being however subject toadjustment so as to conform to the necessity of the case and theconforrnation of tl1e patient. Second, an appendage to this couchhereinafter describecl, by Which the weight of the heacl is made to aiclin the recluction of the curvature by exerting a pressure upon theshoulcler which is upon the sa1ne sicle with the outside of thecurvature, ancl a 001- responcling force in drawing up tl1e shoulclerupon the insicle 01: the curve.

In the accompanying clravvings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of what Iterm the eccentric couch, and also represents the figure of a personreclining upon it. tion is illustrated by a plane and dotted line. Fig.2 is a perspective view of the appenclage to the eccentric couch byWhich the pressure is exerted upon the shoulcler on.the

sicle of the person corresponding with the outsicle sicle of thecurvature ancl a corresponcling extensional force exertecl under theopposite shoulcler.

The eccentric couch consists simply of a fiat cushioned bench l, Withtwo posts 2, 2, about thirteen inches high, three inches Wide, and onefoot apart, which posts are placecl at each end of the couch as shown inthe drawinp;s straps 3, 3, being suspendecl from the top of one post tothe top of the one opposite, ancl made acljustable by bucklos orotherwise in such a manner that the The operaare made for tl1econvenience of allowing the bench to always occupy a position near theWall, ancl still be adapted to the treatment of ourvatures in oppositedirections. It can be 1nacle single if preferred. The head rest 4, isattachecl to a bar 5, which may be slid longituclinally in a socket orbrackets upon the unclerside of the bench l, and the rest 4,

passes through a mortise in the enol of the bar 5, ancl is provided withholes by means of which and a pin 6, the heightof the rest 4, may beacljustecl.

T0 aiol the action of the couch in reclucing the curvature, I haveco'ntrived the improve- 1nent shown 1nore clearly in Fig. 4, though itand its application are represented in Fig. l.

It consists of a round rod of iron 7, bent into sl1ape as shown in Fig.4, in such a manner as to fit lt to pass uncler the arm in the mitlclle,where lt is cushionecl, ancl is provided with a strap 8, to rest uponthe shoulder opposite to that underwhich the cushionecl portion isplacecl, anol a the ends of the rool 7, and may be slid outward orinwarcl a short distance, as the parts are there parallel. The patientbeing located upon the couch upon the side 011 Which the outer side ofthe curvature is located, rests the part opposite th e curvature uponthe straps 3, which have been previously adjusted, as represented anclas the patient lies in that position, the weight of the body upon onesicle, and o1: the head and shoulclers upon the other, tend strongly torecluce the vertebral column to its normal position as will be apparentfrom an inspection of tl1e illustration contained in the drawings. T0aid in this operation, by cornpressing tl1e joints in the outer portionof the curve together, distending the inner portion of the vertebralcolu1nn I generally have the patient emplov the improve1nent shown inFig. 2, alreacly describecl, the action of Which is pe1l1aps alreaclysufiiciently apparent. T0 prevent the heacl froin clescencling too far,the pad 01 heacl rest 4, is properly adjusted, as representecl in thedrawings.

Having thus fully describecl my said inpad 9,'is placeol upon vention,and the manner in Which it is'to be n1ade available, I claim as theimprovemeis which compose it,

l. The combination of the bench l adjustable supports 3, ancl adjustablepad 0r strap 4, substantially as described, and in such a manner as toaccomplish the purpose sei: forth.

2. The head rest represented in Fig. 4,

constict(ad as described, by which the 10 CHAS. F. TAYLOR.

VVitnesses:

H. JAMES VVEST0N, T110s. P. HOW.

